Garmin chosen for in-dash nav in Jeep Grand Cherokee

Garmin yesterday announced that its automotive OEM division will provide in-dash navigation for the new 2011 model year Jeep Grand Cherokee from Chrysler, which debuted at the New York Auto Show this week. The navigation feature will be available on the vehicle’s mid-line stereo systems.

The program marks Garmin’s first major automotive navigation system to be installed at the factory. The system combines Garmin’s user interface into Chrysler’s Uconnect radio that merges technology and content into one 6.5” touchscreen display.

The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee also features SIRIUS Travel Link which gives drivers up-to-the-minute information about gas prices, weather conditions, sports scores and movie listings. In addition, the all-new 2011 Grand Cherokee features SIRIUS Traffic, monitoring traffic condition in 78 markets across the U.S. and continuously displays those conditions through the vehicle's nav system.

Chrysler has sold about 4 million Grand Cherokees since its inception 17 years ago. Annual sales in the U.S. averaged 184,000 this decade, but last year, the figure plummeted to 73,678, according to market research firm Autodata Corp. Grand Cherokee was Jeep’s second-bestselling model in March, after the smaller Wrangler.